Suspect In 4 Killings Testifies In Bridgeport

Suspect In 4 Killings Takes Stand In Bridgeport Trial

BRIDGEPORT -- After once trying to defend himself by serving as his own counsel, murder suspect Jason M. Day tried another approach Tuesday -- he took the stand.

While unsuccessful as his own attorney, it remains to be seen whether Day, as his own witness, will be able to convince 12 jurors that he did not fire bullets through the heads of a 5-year-old boy, the child's mother, Day's former girlfriend and her brother.

Under questioning by his court-appointed public defender, Day calmly denied shooting the four victims, a crime that could send Day to the electric chair if he is convicted here in Superior Court.

Day, 27, is charged with four counts of murder and one count of capital felony in the March 17, 1990, slayings of George Green, 5; his mother, Theresa Hamilton, 27; Day's former girlfriend, Lisa Gibson, 24; and her brother, Raymond Gibson, 27.

Police found the Gibsons' bodies and the boy's body in the third-floor apartment they shared with Day at a Central Avenue housing project in the city. Hamilton's body was found in a storage area outside.

FBI agents have testified that Day admitted to the slayings while in custody in Baltimore, where he was arrested following the shootings. But on Tuesday, Day denied each of the allegations made by the agents.

Day testified that the FBI agents yelled at him, telling him that they knew he killed the boy and the others.

" `We know what you did,' " Day said, quoting the agents. " `I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't do anything,' " he testified that he said at the time.

Day also denied knowing the alleged murder weapon was in the car that he had driven to New York City, before taking a train to Baltimore.

Public Defender William Holden placed a .22 caliber gun -- the gun from which the state says the bullets were fired -- in front of Day on the witness stand table. Day folded his hands and didn't touch it.

Day testified that the gun belonged to Raymond Gibson's grandfather. He had seen it before on many occasions because Gibson

carried it.

Asked how it got under the car seat, Day replied, "I don't have the slightest idea." Holden continued asking questions with the gun sitting inches from Day's clasped hands. Seeing that Holden intended to leave it there, Day politely asked his attorney to remove the gun. "It makes me nervous," said Day, a large, broad-chested man whose felony record dates back to 1983.

In further questioning, Day told the jurors that he loved his girlfriend, that he was sorry that the child had died in such a terrible way and that he had no reason to kill his former girlfriend's brother, who was his best friend.

Asked whether he understood he was fighting for his life, Day responded, yes, and said that was why he was telling the truth.

"If the truth can't save it, then it shouldn't be saved," said Day, speaking softly, as he did throughout his testimony.

After about 90 minutes, Holden finished his questioning and prosecutor Jonathan Benedict began trying to question Day's credibility. He wanted to know about a broken toe and how it was injured.

Day had told many different stories, according to documents Benedict referred to.

Day had told one hospital nurse he kicked a wall. He told another he was mugged. He told FBI agents that he kicked Raymond Gibson in the head during the killings.

But on Tuesday, Day dismissed all of those stories. He said his toe was broken when he jumped out of the third-story window at their apartment building, fleeing what he believed to be a dangerous situation.

On the day of the murders, Day testified in cross-examination, he approached his apartment doorway and heard someone threatening someone else inside. He said he believed those voices came from Jamaican drug dealers and that they were threatening Gibson, who had crossed them in a drug deal.

Benedict did not finish his cross-examination and is scheduled to continue questioning Day today at 10 a.m. before Judge Martin L. McKeever.